A spin in the country [Tension/anxiety/cliff-hanger/twist]
It would all be over in seven hours. The alarm would buzz and I would be up at seven like every other school morning. Except tomorrow morning was the start of the Leaving Certificate.
Insomnia is a terrible thing. Not sleeping is one thing, I mean we have all had a few sleepless nights of worry, right? No, this was different. Stress-induced. Tomorrow morning was the beginning of the rest of my life. No pressure then! Turning the pillow over to the cool side didn't work. Thinking of the holiday in Magaluf in August made my heart race even more. I would have to let off some steam. Vent my frustration.
The car. The brand new car. Smells of leather. Turbo. Outside the door.
I love my parents. They have always looked after me and trusted me. If I got caught taking their pride and joy, all that would end. My mind is made up.
The carpet muffles any sound of me going downstairs. The alarm is never on at night so I don't have to make noise switching off the keypad. I spend twenty seconds turning the front door key. Silent. I close it quieter than a thief. My parents are heavy sleepers.
I pop the central locking. Start the car and move slowly out the gate. Slow as a funeral. Mine if I'm caught.
A hundred metres down the road I floor it. Aaah the acceleration! The tension in my body is gone. Who would have thought a car could be better than yoga?
The moon shone so bright I could have got away with no headlights. I headed for the motorway to see how fast the car could go. My father wouldn't even use sixth gear and I was already at one hundred miles an hour in fifth! In my head the motorway was like a runway.
Then my heart stopped. Blue lights. Christ above! Police at nearly one in the morning? I have no licence. I am not yet insured. I am going to jail. Hold on... just one Guard with his hand up? One very young fella. I pulled my hoodie down to cover my features and gunned the car for the gap between him and his car. I did not panic. I had the jump on him. I took the next exit and crossed the motorway in the direction of home. And I switched off the lights. I knew these roads so well and the moon lit everything. I knew the Guard couldn't catch me if he did not see lights.
Next morning the alarm goes off. I walk downstairs and play dumb. Smell of bacon.
"Good morning son!" My Dad smiles at me. "I hope that commotion didn't affect you?"
"What commotion? What's going on?" I should have gotten an Oscar.
"Some hooligan robbed the car, got chased, left the car outside the gate with the engine running. The Guards ran the Reg and came here. Some young fella in a hoodie."
"Jeez, did they catch him?"
"No. Car was perfect. Probably one of them joyriders. Anyway, never mind, today is your first exam right?" I nodded.
9.35AM; English Paper 1, creative writing; 'Write a short story in which a stressful situation is resolved.'
Bingo!
Question A- 50 marks
[1] Explain, in your own words, what happened overnight to the protagonist? [15]
[2] In your own opinion, which of the following words best describes the boy's predicament?
Stressful / Funny / Difficult
Explain your answer with reference to the text. [15]
[3] {A}Explain why you would or would not like to be in his situation. [10]
{B}The theme of this paper is great escapes. What do you do to escape? [10]
Insomnia is a terrible thing. Not sleeping is one thing, I mean we have all had a few sleepless nights of worry, right? No, this was different. Stress-induced. Tomorrow morning was the beginning of the rest of my life. No pressure then! Turning the pillow over to the cool side didn't work. Thinking of the holiday in Magaluf in August made my heart race even more. I would have to let off some steam. Vent my frustration.
The car. The brand new car. Smells of leather. Turbo. Outside the door.
I love my parents. They have always looked after me and trusted me. If I got caught taking their pride and joy, all that would end. My mind is made up.
The carpet muffles any sound of me going downstairs. The alarm is never on at night so I don't have to make noise switching off the keypad. I spend twenty seconds turning the front door key. Silent. I close it quieter than a thief. My parents are heavy sleepers.
I pop the central locking. Start the car and move slowly out the gate. Slow as a funeral. Mine if I'm caught.
A hundred metres down the road I floor it. Aaah the acceleration! The tension in my body is gone. Who would have thought a car could be better than yoga?
The moon shone so bright I could have got away with no headlights. I headed for the motorway to see how fast the car could go. My father wouldn't even use sixth gear and I was already at one hundred miles an hour in fifth! In my head the motorway was like a runway.
Then my heart stopped. Blue lights. Christ above! Police at nearly one in the morning? I have no licence. I am not yet insured. I am going to jail. Hold on... just one Guard with his hand up? One very young fella. I pulled my hoodie down to cover my features and gunned the car for the gap between him and his car. I did not panic. I had the jump on him. I took the next exit and crossed the motorway in the direction of home. And I switched off the lights. I knew these roads so well and the moon lit everything. I knew the Guard couldn't catch me if he did not see lights.
Next morning the alarm goes off. I walk downstairs and play dumb. Smell of bacon.
"Good morning son!" My Dad smiles at me. "I hope that commotion didn't affect you?"
"What commotion? What's going on?" I should have gotten an Oscar.
"Some hooligan robbed the car, got chased, left the car outside the gate with the engine running. The Guards ran the Reg and came here. Some young fella in a hoodie."
"Jeez, did they catch him?"
"No. Car was perfect. Probably one of them joyriders. Anyway, never mind, today is your first exam right?" I nodded.
9.35AM; English Paper 1, creative writing; 'Write a short story in which a stressful situation is resolved.'
Bingo!
Question A- 50 marks
[1] Explain, in your own words, what happened overnight to the protagonist? [15]
[2] In your own opinion, which of the following words best describes the boy's predicament?
Stressful / Funny / Difficult
Explain your answer with reference to the text. [15]
[3] {A}Explain why you would or would not like to be in his situation. [10]
{B}The theme of this paper is great escapes. What do you do to escape? [10]
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